Fans in the stands: Time for MLB to act
Some NFL teams have approval for live attendance; is MLB following up?
It’s time for MLB to seriously explore the possibility of opening up at least some stadiums to actual live fans.
The idea is absolutely possible, as several NFL teams are in the process of proving. At least a half dozen of those teams have either won approval or are in the process of winning approval from local governments to permit limited capacity live attendance.
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If the NFL can play games in front of live fans as soon as three weeks from now, there’s no reason why MLB can’t operate under the same rules and restrictions.
For any sports venue, the rules vary depending on governmental jurisdiction. So it is unlikely that all 30 MLB teams could establish the necessary protocols or win governmental permission to open gates this year.
Still, the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, and Indianapolis Colts have already announced plans to open their stadiums to levels between 20 and 25 percent of actual capacity for regular-season home games.
The Baltimore Ravens have submitted a proposal to city officials that would permit 7.500 fans to attend Ravens home games. And both the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to have some fans at their home games, the exact details, and numbers still to be determined.
One thing is clear: if you can play football in front of humans in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Kansas City, then you can also play baseball before humans, at least in those locations.
You do have to establish a workable plan – seating arrangements, masks, that sort of thing – but those are or ought to be mere details.
Most NFL teams appear to be involved in ongoing negotiations that may or may not eventually lead to opening stadiums, if only on a limited basis. In some locations, that approval — if it comes – may not occur until after the conclusion of the baseball season.
It also appears that at least in some localities – Washington, New York, and Chicago being the most obvious – the question of governmental approval of limited seating is off the table indefinitely for all sporting events. So be it.
But where the details can be worked out, MLB teams ought to be actively involved in efforts to make it happen.
The first NFL game with fans is scheduled between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 10. One night later, the Royals open a series with the Pittsburgh Pirates just across the parking lot at the Truman Sports Complex.
dark. Next. Astros run more impressive with who is missing
If there aren’t at least some fans in attendance at that Royals-Pirates game, fans in Kansas City will have every reason to wonder why not.